Why does Gazprom seem to be making ridiculous claims about our safety pod?

Greenpeace International has a long and proud history of peaceful protests in defence of the environment, but right now Russian authorities are holding 30 of our activists on board the Arctic Sunrise for opposing the reckless oil company Gazprom.

It comes after officials from the Russian security service FSB, armed with guns and knives, abruptly stormed the ship using a helicopter and ropes. Once on the ship, they rounded up our activists and ordered them into the mess.

It was a swift and aggressive follow-up to the arrest of two other Greenpeace International activists who climbed Gazprom's dangerous Arctic drilling platform earlier this week. They're now being held with their fellow activists.

The Arctic Sunrise arrived in these icy waters alongside millions of people around the world who oppose Arctic oil drilling. Together, we wanted to protest peacefully against Gazprom's plans to become the first company to pump oil from the icy Arctic ocean.

As part of this protest, Greenpeace International carried a 'safety pod' to the Gazprom platform to shield the activists from things like water cannons.

According to Russian media reports, Gazprom has described the pod as 'resembling a bomb'. The pod measures 3 meters long by 2 meters wide (about the size of a Mini), is painted in bright colours, and was made following a public competition.

Clearly this is ludicrous. The pod is a big foam tube. Non-violence has been enshrined at the core of Greenpeace for more than 40 years. We engage in peaceful protests to expose environmental crimes. We posed no safety threat.

The same, however, cannot be said for the Russian Coast Guard, whose vessel fired 11 warning shots over the Arctic Sunrise on Wednesday as it demanded to board our ship.

So watch this video of the pod and judge for yourself. Check out the online competition we ran to design it. Gazprom's accusation would be funny, if it wasn't so dangerous.

These are desperate acts of intimidation designed by the oil industry to silence our campaign against Arctic drilling. But we will not be intimidated. We will not be silenced.

This illegal boarding of our ship the Arctic Sunrise will not prevent us from exposing Gazprom's dangerous drilling to public scrutiny. It will shine a light on the special treatment the oil industry receives in Russia. It will fuel the resolve of the many millions of people who are demanding an end to oil drilling in the Arctic.

You're joking right? Activists expose environmental crimes and the Russians respond with GUNS & KNIVES and HOLDS THE CREW HOSTAGE while Greenpeace activists peacefully COMPLY with them and Greenpeace is the terrorist? I HARDLY THINK SO.

According to informations from Russia they hopefully will be accused for piracy and terrorism.............. that means 15 years in jail!!! But probab...

According to informations from Russia they hopefully will be accused for piracy and terrorism.............. that means 15 years in jail!!! But probably Greenpeace will send care packages to their hero warriors............ :-) Best place would be some camp in cold North Siberia, of course without heating and electricity so they during their 15 years stay will not pollute the area. Hard labour during daytime gives warmth and for sleeping during night no light is needed........ :-)

Entering an oil platform without invitation is an act of aggression. The owner of the platform has the right to defend his property. If some one enter...

Entering an oil platform without invitation is an act of aggression. The owner of the platform has the right to defend his property. If some one enters my house without invitation, he is not coming for good and has to consider to get hurt. Simple as that.

Greenpeace are putting themselves above any law WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE????

Sure, by all means, let's shut down Gazprom (do not forget to buy plenty of warm clothes if you live in Europe, there will be not much heating gas...

Sure, by all means, let's shut down Gazprom (do not forget to buy plenty of warm clothes if you live in Europe, there will be not much heating gas going around, - and being green conscientious people we will not start heating ourselves with wood or coal, would we now?). Once done with Gazprom, let's politely suggest to those oh so brave Greenpeace saviours that they could trade in their diesel gurgling ice breaker for a sail boat and sail Arctic without spewing black smoke into it - a bit like Amundsen and the gang did when they first discovered the place. Sure, that will be not nearly as comfortable and ego pleasing as now, and they may even have to do without warm toilets - but hey, if someone was destroying the place blah blah, would you really think about personal comforts?

lol, and instead of their speed boats they could use canoes.......... working for makeing them moving will give some warmth and probably also more cir...

lol, and instead of their speed boats they could use canoes.......... working for makeing them moving will give some warmth and probably also more circulation for their brain................

Greenpeace proudly present a video of their new safety pod where they show they will shit and piss in a bucket....... there must be nice smell inside because I asume they will keep the stuff until it can be given to a station for clearing it in proper way.........to save the planet............ :-)

The owner of the platform has built it in our ocean without our permission AND damaging the area. That´s the problem. You might not suffer the co...

The owner of the platform has built it in our ocean without our permission AND damaging the area. That´s the problem. You might not suffer the consequences of Gazprom drilling actions, but your children will...

You are right- everyone has the right to defend their home. But what about those who can't defend themselves? The Arctic is the home of vulnerable...

You are right- everyone has the right to defend their home. But what about those who can't defend themselves? The Arctic is the home of vulnerable marine life and Greenpeace stood up for the animals who can't speak for themselves. Their home is going to be invaded by the oil companies and Greenpeace are trying to prevent that with their PEACEFUL protests. Who do you think you are, claiming that Shell and Gazprom have the right to destroy the pristine waters of the Arctic?

Zetec: Entering an oil platform without invitation is an act of aggression. The owner of the platform has the right to defend his property. You are AB...

Zetec: Entering an oil platform without invitation is an act of aggression. The owner of the platform has the right to defend his property. You are ABSOLUTELY right !!!
To enter russian terretory you need a visa.......... did they have visa?? I hope russian immigration office "Ofir" will solve this act of piracy according to russian law. Than at least these people who do NOT respect any private property will not bother any body for the next 15 years !!!! People entering ships at coast of Somalia in worst case get shot.............
Remove all Gazprom ads from stadions........... what a stupidity !!!!
Close for all gas from Gazprom during wintertime!!!! Green Piss will help !!!!!! Interesting to follow the next development in this case, especially when listening western media and russian media !!! Don't play stupid games with Russia........... even when you are Green Peace !!!

On the off chance that it may occur to you to actually educate yourself on the subject of discussion, I suggest you read up article 60 of UN conventio...

On the off chance that it may occur to you to actually educate yourself on the subject of discussion, I suggest you read up article 60 of UN convention on law of seas. You will be amazed, but drilling in international waters is actually regulated by UN agreements, together with right and obligation of coastal states to maintain security zones around offshore installations. But please do not let minor nuisances like law deter you people from whatever it is the latest you are saving us all from.

>>>So you want tell me Russian Gouvernment has given licence to drill in international waters to Rosshelf ???

Yes, in 1992. Welc...

>>>So you want tell me Russian Gouvernment has given licence to drill in international waters to Rosshelf ???

Yes, in 1992. Welcome back, Sleeping Beauty. And I have some more bad news for you - there are crowds out there drilling in international waters, on licenses from US to Angola to Papua Guinea. Now you can really panic.

Dude, I'm totally with you. Let's save the planet and to hell with all these crybabies who distract us with their puny hungers, child epidemic...

Dude, I'm totally with you. Let's save the planet and to hell with all these crybabies who distract us with their puny hungers, child epidemics, pillaging dictators and what not. Let's hug the bear and screw the rest!

Thank you for this post. Reading previous comments made me really believe in the infinite human stupidity Einstein talked about.
I hope there ar...

Thank you for this post. Reading previous comments made me really believe in the infinite human stupidity Einstein talked about.
I hope there are more people who appreciate the great risk these young people are facing for everyone´s wellfare.
Russian attitude only reveals how afraid they are in front of the activists´courage.
They show how coward a big Superpower can be: Face a group of peaceful youngsters with Knives and fireguns? A real sign of fear and cowardness.....